Definition of Environmental Health

Environmental health is understood as the process by which the environmental health is evaluated, corrected and controlled. factors that may negatively influence people's health.

The main idea of environmental health is to control risk factors for the life and health of human beings. The body that establishes the potential risks is the World Health Organization (WHO). This body considers that there are three key areas that are presented as a threat for health: poverty, irrational use of natural resources and one economy not sustainable.

In the healthcare field

Environmental health is also considered from a sanitary perspective, that is, with issues related to water supply, sewerage, the system of vaccination to the population child, the contamination environmental or hygiene measures in a community or at work. All these aspects are aspects of environmental health, which must be understood as a strategy overall.

Consequences of neglecting the environment

The deficiencies or deficiencies of the environmental health of a

territory They can affect very diverse spheres: the quality of water, vegetation or the atmosphere, among other areas. If we look at the socioeconomic context, environmental health focuses on the infrastructure of public services, as well as on the population and housing. It is appreciated, therefore, that the concept of environmental health is very broad and it is logical that this is the case. because health is related to the economy, pollution and the purification system of the Water.

Example of environmental health in a population

In some cities there are marginal areas in which situations that potentially affect health are experienced. Let's think of a child who lives in one of these areas (for example, in a favela). He predictably has schooling problems, a very negative social environment for his training and the available infrastructures are deficient.

And all of this is a clear danger to your health. To face this reality, environmental health specialists implement strategies aimed at reduce health risks and, above all, to prevent social and environmental situations destructive.

Professionals who implement strategies to improve environmental health in a population must correctly diagnose threats to health and for this it is necessary that they act on the ground, since it is an activity that can only be understood from personal experience and not from the theory of a classroom.

Environmental Health Issues